The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA) announced on the 8th that they will strengthen support for the production of short dramas by new creators responsible for the future of Korean drama.
Since 2023, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been promoting the short drama production support project, expanding this year’s budget to 2 billion won, double that of the previous year, to support 15 works.
Short dramas are the starting point for nurturing the production capabilities of long-form dramas (series) loved around the world and serve as a platform for new writers, directors, and actors. During the 'Cultural Artists Gathering' attended by President Lee Jae-myung and his wife on the 30th of last month, Kim Won-seok, the director of 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' noted, "Spaces for talented and motivated newcomers to debut are disappearing," adding, "Support for short dramas, which are a gateway for newcomers, is important for building a sustainable ecosystem."
In 2023, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism collaborated with CJ ENM to produce short dramas and conducted a pilot project broadcasting them on tvN and TVING. Last year, the ministry also developed a support project for new creators in short drama production targeting broadcasting and production companies.
Six works, including the supported piece 'Summer, Love Machine Blues' from 2023, received a total of seven awards, including a special jury award and best editing award at the 57th Houston International Film Festival. Among them, 'Do Not Press the Peach' won the short drama work award in the international competition at the 19th Seoul Drama Awards. Last year's supported work 'Miran the Junk Dealer' and three others continued to receive awards at the 58th Houston Film Festival, with 'The Daughter of a Nerd' receiving a gold prize and recording a domestic rating of 4.7%, earning recognition for both its artistic quality and popularity.
A policy official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism remarked, "It is time to pay attention once again to the value of short dramas that contribute to the qualitative improvement and future capacity building of the drama industry," adding, "The ministry will diligently support short dramas as a stepping stone for new creators to enter the global stage."